February 18, 2015, 9:00AM

HAMTRAMCK, MI - Fat Tuesday got a little fatter as six participants competed to eat as many paczki in 15 minutes as possible Tuesday afternoon. The Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) Post #10 in Hamtramck hosted the 15th annual 'Paczki Eating Contest.' Matt Holowichi, of Plymouth, beat the 2005 record of 22 ½ pastries by exactly ½ of a... Full story »

February 17, 2015, 8:11PM

Matthew Holowicki, of Plymouth, sets a new record of 23 paczki in 15 minutes during the 15th annual Paczki Eating Contest at the P.L.A.V. Post #10 bar on Fat Tuesday, February 17, 2015 in Hamtramck. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)

March 04, 2014, 11:45AM

Watch the video as 10 contestants stuff their faces with as many paczkis as they could handle in 90 seconds during the third annual VG's Grocery paczki eating contest on Tuesday morning at the store on Fat Tuesday. Full story »

February 12, 2013, 3:26PM

Fat Tuesday is a special holiday in Hamtramck, Michigan. The large polish community in Hamtramck, a town surrounded by the city of Detroit, celebrates Fat Tuesday as Pączki Day. Pączkis are cream filled doughnuts that can have as many as 400 calories a piece. Lines of people can be seen wrapped around buildings of the local bakeries on this day, a tradition for many on Fat Tuesday. However, Pączki Day is not just about the pastries or Polish food. It is celebrated as a sort of Polish-St. Patricks Day in Hamtramck. The Polish heritage of the city and its residents are celebrated by live bands, food, and bars which open as early as 7 a.m. for the day's festivities.

February 12, 2013, 3:08PM

Jason Williams, Detroit, shakes hands with U.S. Congressman Gary Peters while waiting in line to purchase paczkis in Hamtramck on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 12. This Fat Tuesday was the first time the new 14th District Congressman Peters has celebrated Paczki Day as the U.S. Representative of Hamtramck. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

February 12, 2013, 3:08PM

(left) Editor of the Hamtramck Review, John Ulaj, Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski, U.S. Congressman Gary Peters, and Hamtramck Councilmen Anam Miah pose for a photo outside of The Palace Bakery in Hamtramck on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 12. This Fat Tuesday was the first time the new 14th District Congressman Peters has celebrated Paczki Day as the U.S. Representative of Hamtramck....